Regulation Rendezvous- Hallway Paths

While out in our districts, we have seen a growing number of hallway paths being implemented. We think these are a great strategy for students who need to get up and move! Today's Regulation Rendezvous travels around the Miami Valley to show off some of our favorite Hallway Paths. 

Hallway paths have been designed with a series of movements that provide the student with the necessary proprioceptive and vestibular input to help them refocus and be better prepared for learning. It is important to note which activities are calming, alerting or over-stimulating for each individual. 

When a student’s sensory needs are not being met, the student will still find a way to meet their sensory needs but, oftentimes, in a more disruptive manner.  Examples of this include: getting out of their seat unexpectedly, rolling around during circle time, or running when walking is the expectation and the list goes on! 

Providing sensory supports, like hallway paths, should be viewed as equally important as academic instruction because in order for a student to perform externally, they must be internally regulated.  Participation in hallway paths should be a fun way to help reduce sensory seeking behaviors and increase attention to tasks.  

Studebaker Preschool, Huber Heights

We love these simple paths for preschoolers. Preschool teachers incorporated these paths during transitions and through proactively scheduling extra path breaks for students who needed them. 

Letter hopscotch

Lilypad leap path for students to jump and count

 Red and blue zig-zag paths for direction following and varied gross motor movements
Colored footprint paths for directionality

Snyder Park Elementary, Springfield

Snyder Park's OT, Toni Cockerham, created a fun Under the Sea themed hallway path for students with a variety of great activities.

Fish hopscotch jumping path

Jellyfish Jump 

Webbed foot reciprocal gait path

Balance line

Directionality path

Crab walk

Seaweed arch

Hand walk maze

Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Stevenson Elementary's OT, Denise Campbell, collaborated with her team of educators including Terri Dinkelaker (PT), Taylor Ruef (IS), Patti Hollender (IS), Amanda Gant (IS), and Rylie Jarrett (IS) set up a variety of hallway activities for students who need a break throughout the day. 

Gross motor stations
Deep breathing visuals
Visual tracking 

 

Zig zag gross motor path
Heavy work book sort
Alphabet hopping path

New Carlisle Elementary, New Carlisle

Intervention Specialist, Derek Hord, created these great Brain Break paths that students could readily access right in the resource room during work times. 

Alternating foot hopping path

Jumping path

Side stepping path

Agility ladder 

Maze path

JFK Elementary, Kettering

The staff at JFK in Kettering created this great gross motor hallway activity that students can use for breaks or when waiting in the hallway. Each FIREBIRD letter card opens up to reveal a gross motor activity for students to perform to help them focus and calm. 

Dixie Elementary- New Lebanon

OT Chris Cool has set up two wonderful hallway paths for the students at Dixie Elementary. In one hallway, the students follow the Rocket Sensory Path and in another hallway there is a Dinosaur Sensory Path. 

Visual Positional Cues

More visual positional cues

Rocket Hopscotch

Wall push up station

Reciprocal walking path

 

 Coded movement cues for each path icon

Wall push up station

Mound Elementary- Miamisburg

Principal Becca Huber created a great space for students who need to embed movement into their day. 

Walking paths

Tracking spiral

Wall pushes

Sugarcreek Primary- Piqua

We love this portable walking path used by PT Amy Pratt!